Ezra h



(No Model.)

E. H. SNOW. TOY BUILDING BLOCK.

Patented May 13, 1884. I u'y/ ATTORNEY N: PETERS. Phblo-Lilhngmphor, Washington, D.C.

lhviTnn TATFS FATTNT Trice.

EZRA H. SNOV, OF ORANGE, NEV JERSEY.

'Tov BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,633, dated May 13, 1884-.

Application filed November 9.3, 1583. (X model.)

This invention is in the nature of an im provement in toys; and the invention consists in a toy constructed, combined, and arranged in the manner hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of edifice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing sections nested. Fig. 3 is a plan of board. Fig. 4 is a section showing cylindrical side, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a board or foundation for the cylindrical side, as shown in Fig. 4. I

Similar letters ofreferen cc indicate like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates, particularly, to toy building-blocksthat is, toys which may be built up or put together for the purpose of forming structures, such as obelisks, pyramids, 85c. Heretofore toys of this character have consisted, mainly,ot' wooden cubes, or, rather, a series of hollow boxes, each being somewhat smaller than the other. By my invention any given number of flat pieces of board, A, of suitable thickness are constructed either with angular sides or of disk form. If angular, as shown in Fig. 3, grooves a, at right angles to each other, are formed on one surface of the 1 board, and grooves b 011 the other surface. The grooves a, however, are nearer the edges of the boards than are the grooves Z),- or, in other words, one set of grooves incloses a larger area of board than the other. If the boards are circular or of disk form the grooves are likewise circular. The several boards being in this way prepared, a number of pasteboard or thin wooden sections, B, are cut toa size that will correspond with the dimensions of the grooves in the boards A, and since these boards are graduated in size the grooves in them are correspondingly graduated, and the sections B, which correspond with the grooves, are in like manner graduated from the largest to the smallest. The two surfaces of each of the boards A and the surfaces of each of the sections B may be ornamented or embellished with pictures and reading-matter; or one side may have pictures and the other side have letters of the alphabet; or the letters and pictures may both be on the same side. The reading matter may relate to some story or history complete on any given number of sections, or continued from section to section throughout the entire series. The boards and several sections being completed, they can be employed. for the purpose of building a structure, in this wise: The first or foundation board, 0, is placed upon a table or on the floor. (The foundation-board need not be grooved but on one side only.) Into the grooves 1), formed in its upper surface,are inserted the first series, d, of the sections B, as shown in Fig. 1. The second board, 6, of the series is next placed with its grooves a fitting over the upper edges of the sections d, completing the first cube or cylinder, as the case may be. Into the grooveb of this second board are next placed the sections of the next cube or cylinder, and so on throughout the entire series of sections and boards until the whole of them are employed in the edifice,which can then be moved from place to place without danger of its falling apart.

Instead of forming the grooves a and bin the boards A, pegs may be inserted in each corner, or otherwise, of the boards A,between which pegs the sections B can be inserted; or slots may be cut into the boards for the reception of the sections, instead of grooves or pegs. In fact, many ways may be devised for removably attaching the sections to the boards.

Now, from the construction of my toy it will be readily seen that not only can the boards and sections, when apart, be readily packed into a small compass, but also, if desired, the first cube or cylinder may remain intact, and the several other cubes or cylinders of the entire structure be nested into it, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the sections 13 may be embellished with a design or combination of words, letters, or figures that will admit of the sections being split or separated vertically or horizontally, so that different combinations of Words, letters, or figures maybe formed by 5 instruction and forming puzzles of easy solui tion. i

It is apparent that my toy possesses the advantage of lightness, eheapness, and adaptability of easy reduction in bulk for purposes 10 of transportation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A series of angular or disk shaped boards graduated in size,with grooves a and b on their two sides, in combination with a series of thin graduated sections, B, constructed to fit into said grooves, as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination, a series of boards, A, with grooves a and 7) formed therein, the grooves a being nearer the edges of the boards than the grooves 12, as and for the purpose described.

EZRA H. SNOW.

Witnesses:

G. M. PLYMPTON, EDWARD L. J OHNS. 

